New York Stars (Mite Division) concluded their 1999/2000 season by participating in the Long Island Hockey Leagues annual "King of the Hill" Tournament, held at the Parkwood Rink in Great Neck on Sunday, April 2.

In their seven games, the Stars posted four wins, one loss and two ties, winning their division and placing third overall. Stars veteran netminder Chris Gerardi shutout the Long Island Edge in game one, as the Stars won 3-0. The Stars got unassisted goals from wingers T.J. Leonard and Nicky Amendola. Center and Co-Captain Michael Kress put in the third goal assisted by linemate Michael Biagioni.

In game two the Stars received great goaltending from rookie Ricky
Cibrano as he held New York Appleseed to one goal. The Stars earned a 1-1 tie as Kress scored late in the game assisted once again by Biagioni.
The Nassau County Cubs provide the opposition in game three and once
again it was Gerardi who turned them back, shutting them out in a 4-0 Stars victory. Kress picked up the Stars first goal, assisted by who else, but Biagioni. Amendola got the next two Stars goals assisted on both by center Patrick Brown. Brown put in the fourth goal after taking a great breakout pass from defenseman Michael Strenk.

In game four, the Stars again rode the back of Gerardi, in stopping
the Staten Island Sharks 2-1.
Brown had the first goal assisted by winger Chris Hayes, and Amendola
again found the net assisted by defenseman Jesse Wynn. In the fifth game it was Cibrano turning in the shutout as the Stars beat the Great Neck Teddy Bears 4-0. Winger Dillon Balsamo got the Stars rolling early in the game finding net from in close assisted by Brown. Brown made it 2-0 assisted by Hayes and Strenk. Strenk, then blasted a shot from just inside the right side blue line, over the shoulder of the Cubs goalie.
The Stars fourth goal was a highlight play, as Leonard passed to center Kenny Fiorentino who put the puck into the low slot onto the stick of
Amendola, who did a 360 degree "Spin-A-Rama" and backhanded the puck home.

Game six found the Stars down 1-0 with seconds to play against the
New York Cyclones. The Stars pulled goalie Gerardi for the extra skater and forced the puck to their other co-captain and defenseman Paddy Mead. Mead broke down the left side of the neutral zone, cut to the high slot and ripped the puck home with but two seconds to play, giving the Stars the tie.

In their final game of the tournament and season, the Stars were
defeated 2-0 by the Mamaroneck Tigers. The Stars were unable to turn back the strong forechecking of the
Tigers and could offer little support to both Gerardi and Cibrano, who each
surrendered a goal in the loss.
Amendola with five goals and Brown with two goals, four assists and some
great defensive play were selected by the coaches as Stars MVP's for the tournament.

Tryouts for all Greater New York Travel teams, from Mite through
Midget, will be held at the Abe Stark Ice Rink on June 2, 3, and 4.